Lesson 23: Future in Nif'al and Hitpa'el. The Imperative in All Binyanim. Conversational "Imperative = Future." Negative Imperative with אל

Part 1: Where we are on the map of binyanim and tenses

After lessons 21–22 you have in hand:

• Future in Pa'al, Pi'el, Hif'il (L21) — prefixes e-/ti-/yi-/ni- + gender-number suffixes.
• Reading without nikkud (L22) — vowels you now restore by root and pattern.

In this lesson we close the future for two more binyanim (Nif'al and Hitpa'el — the two main "passive-reflexive" patterns), and immediately move on to the next level — the imperative mood. It has two lives in Hebrew:

• Classical (grammatically correct) — separate forms (kton, kabel, hashlem).
• Conversational (what you'll hear on the street) — simply the 2nd-person future with the meaning of a command: tikhtov, tedaber, telkhi.

Both are alive. Knowing both is mandatory.

Pay attention to negation. In the past and present, "not" = lo (lo katavti — "I didn't write," lo kotev — "doesn't write"). In the imperative — "not" = אל (al) + 2nd-person future. al tikhtov — "don't write." Lo tikhtov in this meaning is a mistake. Lo tikhtov can only be said as a statement of fact about the future: "you will not write."

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Part 2: Future in Nif'al

Nif'al (L16) is the passive or middle partner of Pa'al: lehikanes ("to enter, be admitted"), lehishaer ("to stay"), leihaled ("to be born"), lehipagesh ("to meet").

In the future tense Nif'al is recognized by two markers:

• The person prefix — the same as in Pa'al (e-, ti-, yi-, ni-), but with the vowel "i" in the root itself.
• Inside the stem — the characteristic Nif'al "look": ...ka-NES, ...sha-ER, ...pa-GESH.

Paradigm: root כ-נ-ס (k-n-s, "to enter") → Nif'al future

Person	Hebrew	Translit	English
ani	אכנס	ekanes	I will enter
ata	תכנס	tikanes	you will enter (m.)
at	תכנסי	tikansi	you will enter (f.)
hu	יכנס	yikanes	he will enter
hi	תכנס	tikanes	she will enter
anachnu	נכנס	nikanes	we will enter
atem/aten	תכנסו	tikansu	you (pl.) will enter
hem/hen	יכנסו	yikansu	they will enter

Overlap to watch for: ata and hi — one form (tikanes). In modern Hebrew, atem and aten also merged into one (tikansu) — this is the norm since L21.

Compare Pa'al and Nif'al in the future on one root

The root כ-נ-ס (k-n-s) lives in two binyanim:

Binyan	Meaning	hu (he) — future
Pa'al — לכנוס (literary, rare)	to gather	yikhnos
Nif'al — להיכנס (everyday)	to enter	yikanes

The difference: the prefix is the same (yi-), but in Nif'al — "i" in the stem (yi-ka-nes), and in Pa'al — "o" (yi-khnos). That's your identifying mark.

More roots in the Nif'al future

Root	Infinitive	Meaning	ani	hu	hem
ש-א-ר	להישאר lehisha'er	to stay	esha'er	yisha'er	yisha'aru
פ-ג-ש	להיפגש lehipagesh	to meet	epagesh	yipagesh	yipagshu
ז-כ-ר	להיזכר lehizakher	to recall	ezakher	yizakher	yizakhru
ר-א-ה	להיראות lehera'ot	to look, seem	era'e	yera'e	yera'u
ש-מ-ר	להישמר lehishamer	to be cautious	eshamer	yishamer	yishamru

Recognition hint in unpointed text: you see a future form with prefix ת/י/א/נ, and immediately after the prefix — the letter י (a mater lectionis giving "i"): תיכנס, יישאר — this is most likely Nif'al.

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Part 3: Future in Hitpa'el

Hitpa'el (L17) is the reflexive/reciprocal binyan: lehitlabesh ("to get dressed"), lehitkatev ("to correspond"), lehitpate'ach ("to develop"). Recognized by the prefix הת- (hit-) in past and infinitive.

In the future the letter ה drops from the prefix, leaving only -ת- (metathesis with sibilants of the root, as in L17, also stays).

Paradigm: root ל-ב-ש (l-b-sh, "to dress" — Hitpa'el) → future

Person	Hebrew	Translit	English
ani	אתלבש	etlabesh	I will get dressed
ata	תתלבש	titlabesh	you (m.) will get dressed
at	תתלבשי	titlabshi	you (f.) will get dressed
hu	יתלבש	yitlabesh	he will get dressed
hi	תתלבש	titlabesh	she will get dressed
anachnu	נתלבש	nitlabesh	we will get dressed
atem/aten	תתלבשו	titlabshu	you (pl.) will get dressed
hem/hen	יתלבשו	yitlabshu	they will get dressed

The double "t" (תת, תת) is not a typo. The first ת is the person prefix (ti-), the second ת is what's left from הת-. Double "t" is the signature of Hitpa'el in the future for ata/at/hi/atem.

Metathesis in the future

If a root begins with a sibilant (ש, שׂ, ז, צ, ס) — the ת letter of the binyan swaps with it (the rule from L17). In the future this is preserved.

Root	Infinitive	Metathesis?	hu — future
ש-מ-ש	להשתמש lehishtamesh — to use	yes, ת↔ש	yishtamesh
ס-ד-ר	להסתדר lehistader — to manage, get along	yes, ת↔ס	yistader
צ-ל-ם	להצטלם lehitstalem — to be photographed	yes, ת→ט next to צ	yitstalem
ז-ק-נ	להזדקן lehizdaken — to grow old	yes, ת→ד next to ז	yizdaken
ל-ב-ש	להתלבש lehitlabesh — to get dressed	no	yitlabesh
ק-ש-ר	להתקשר lehitkasher — to call (on phone)	no	yitkasher

Useful Hitpa'el verbs in the future

Root	Infinitive	Meaning	ani	hu
כ-ת-ב	להתכתב lehitkatev	to correspond	etkatev	yitkatev
פ-ת-ח	להתפתח lehitpate'ach	to develop	etpate'ach	yitpate'ach
ר-ג-ל	להתרגל lehitragel	to get used to	etragel	yitragel
ק-ל-ח	להתקלח lehitkale'ach	to take a shower	etkale'ach	yitkale'ach
ע-נ-י-נ	להתעניין lehitanyen	to be interested	etanyen	yitanyen
ח-ת-נ	להתחתן lehitchaten	to get married	etchaten	yitchaten

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Part 4: The imperative mood — classical form

In classical Hebrew the imperative consists of separate forms, made by "cutting off" the prefix of the 2nd-person future. There are four: to a man (ata), to a woman (at), to a male/mixed group (atem), to a female group (aten — in modern Hebrew it has practically merged with atem).

Pa'al — imperative

Base model: "o" vowel in the stem.

Root	To m. (ata)	To f. (at)	To pl. (atem)	English
כ-ת-ב	ktov כתוב	kitvi כתבי	kitvu כתבו	write
ש-מ-ר	shmor שמור	shimri שמרי	shimru שמרו	guard, keep
ל-מ-ד	lmad למד	limdi למדי	limdu למדו	study
ע-מ-ד	amod עמוד	imdi עמדי	imdu עמדו	stand / get up
ק-ר-א	kra קרא	kir'i קראי	kir'u קראו	read / call

Clarification: for the root כ-ת-ב the classical imperative form is kton (with "n" instead of "v"), from the same root in different vocalization. In living language it's heard less; "ktov" today is fine in instructions too.

Pi'el — imperative

In Pi'el the imperative sounds almost like the present, but without the prefix.

Root	To m. (ata)	To f. (at)	To pl. (atem)	English
ד-ב-ר	daber דבר	dabri דברי	dabru דברו	speak
ב-ק-ש	bakesh בקש	bakshi בקשי	bakshu בקשו	ask, request
ק-ב-ל	kabel קבל	kabli קבלי	kablu קבלו	receive, accept
ס-פ-ר	saper ספר	sapri ספרי	sapru ספרו	tell
ש-ל-מ	shalem שלם	shalmi שלמי	shalmu שלמו	pay

Hif'il — imperative

In Hif'il the imperative starts with ha-.

Root	To m. (ata)	To f. (at)	To pl. (atem)	English
ש-ל-מ	hashlem השלם	hashlimi השלימי	hashlimu השלימו	complete
כ-נ-ס	hakhnes הכנס	hakhnisi הכניסי	hakhnisu הכניסו	bring in, let in
ס-ב-ר	hasber הסבר	hasbiri הסבירי	hasbiru הסבירו	explain
ז-מ-נ	hazmen הזמן	hazmini הזמיני	hazminu הזמינו	invite / order
ח-ל-ט	hachlet החלט	hachliti החליטי	hachlitu החליטו	decide

Nif'al — imperative

In Nif'al the imperative starts with hi-.

Root	To m. (ata)	To f. (at)	English
כ-נ-ס	hikanes היכנס	hikansi היכנסי	enter
ש-א-ר	hisha'er הישאר	hisha'ari הישארי	stay
ז-ה-ר	hizaher היזהר	hizahari היזהרי	be careful
פ-ג-ש	hipagesh היפגש	hipagshi היפגשי	meet (someone)

Hitpa'el — imperative

In Hitpa'el the imperative starts with hit- (i.e., infinitive without ל-).

Root	To m. (ata)	To f. (at)	English
ל-ב-ש	hitlabesh התלבש	hitlabshi התלבשי	get dressed
ק-ש-ר	hitkasher התקשר	hitkashri התקשרי	call (phone)
ר-ג-ל	hitragel התרגל	hitragli התרגלי	get used to
י-ש-ב	hityashev התיישב	hityashvi התיישבי	sit down, settle in

Remember the logic: imperative = "infinitive minus ל-", often

In three "heavy" binyanim (Hif'il, Nif'al, Hitpa'el) the classical imperative = infinitive minus ל-:

• lehashlim "to complete" → hashlem "complete!"
• lehikanes "to enter" → hikanes "enter!"
• lehitlabesh "to dress" → hitlabesh "dress!"

This hack saves the brain: know the infinitive, know the imperative.

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Part 5: Conversational rule — imperative = 2nd-person future

This is the single most important rule of the lesson for living Hebrew. Memorize it like this:

In modern colloquial Hebrew, the classical imperative (kton, kabel, hashlem) is rarely heard. Instead, you use the 2nd-person future: tikhtov, tekabel, tashlim. By form — future, by meaning — command.

Example of the shift on one verb

Register	To a man	To a woman	To plural	Meaning
Classical	ktov	kitvi	kitvu	write!
Conversational	tikhtov ata	tikhtevi at	tikhtevu	write (you)

Literally tikhtov ata — "you will write," but in the context of a request/command it sounds like "write." Often bevakasha is added for softening: "tikhtov li bevakasha" — "write to me, please."

Which form you'll hear when

Form	Where it lives
Classical (kton, daber, hashlem)	Instructions, announcements, military commands, signs, literature, songs, formal register
Future-as-imperative (tikhtov, tedaber, tashlim)	Everyday speech, between friends, in the family, in a store, in a taxi

"Classic vs. street" table

Root / Binyan	Classic	Street (2-pers. fut.)	Meaning
כ-ת-ב Pa'al	ktov	tikhtov	write
ד-ב-ר Pi'el	daber	tedaber	speak
ב-ק-ש Pi'el	bakesh	tevakesh	ask
ק-ב-ל Pi'el	kabel	tekabel	receive
ש-ל-מ Hif'il	hashlem	tashlim	complete
ה-ב-נ Hif'il	haven	tavin	understand
כ-נ-ס Nif'al	hikanes	tikanes	enter
ל-ב-ש Hitpa'el	hitlabesh	titlabesh	get dressed
ק-ש-ר Hitpa'el	hitkasher	titkasher	call
ב-ו-א Pa'al	bo (irreg.)	tavo	come
ה-ל-ך Pa'al	lekh (irreg.)	telekh	go (m.)
ה-ל-ך Pa'al	lekhi (irreg.)	telkhi	go (f.)

Notice: the verbs of motion bo ("come"), lekh/lekhi ("go"), kakh/kchi ("take") in their classical form are very frequent — you'll hear them in living speech. But "kton," "shmor" — less often; more often "tikhtov," "tishmor."

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Part 6: Negative imperative — אל (al) + future

Here you need to be very careful.

Rule: the imperative is negated with אל (al), not לא (lo).

Affirmative (request)	Prohibition
ktov / tikhtov — "write!"	al tikhtov — "don't write!"
daber / tedaber — "speak!"	al tedaber — "don't speak!"
lekh / telekh — "go!" (m.)	al telekh — "don't go!" (m.)
lekhi / telkhi — "go!" (f.)	al telkhi — "don't go!" (f.)
bo / tavo — "come!"	al tavo — "don't come!"

Why specifically אל and not לא?

• לא (lo) — negation for the past and present, and also for a statement-of-fact future:
  • lo katavti — "I didn't write" (past)
  • ani lo kotev — "I'm not writing" (present)
  • hu lo yikhtov — "he won't write" (future as a statement)
• אל (al) — negation only for the imperative meaning, always with a 2nd-person future form:
  • al tikhtov — "don't write!" (command-prohibition)
  • al tedabri — "don't speak!" (to a woman)
  • al telkhi — "don't go!" (to a woman)

Compare, so as not to confuse

Hebrew	Translit	English
הוא לא ידבר	hu lo yedaber	he won't speak (statement)
אל תדבר	al tedaber	don't speak! (prohibition to a man)
אל תדברי	al tedabri	don't speak! (prohibition to a woman)
היא לא תבוא	hi lo tavo	she won't come (statement)
אל תבוא	al tavo	don't come! (prohibition to a man)

Trap: "al tedaber" and "hi lo tedaber" (she won't speak) — both verb forms are identical (tedaber — both 2nd-pers. m. and 3rd-pers. f. future). You tell them apart by the particle (lo vs. al) and by meaning.

With the negative imperative — always the conversational form

Notice an interesting fact: there is no classical form of the negative imperative in modern Hebrew. You can't say "al ktov." Only al tikhtov. This means that the conversational shift "imperative = future" in negation is mandatory, across all registers.

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Part 7: Imperatives and requests — softening

A "bare" imperative — even the conversational one (tikhtov!) — sounds harsh. In polite speech you add:

Word/phrase	Translit	Meaning
בבקשה	bevakasha	please
אולי	ulai	maybe…
אפשר ש-	efshar she-	could you…, is it possible that…
תרצה / תרצי + inf.	tirtse / tirtsi	would you like… (literally "will you want…")
נא	na	please (literary, in signs)

Politeness scale from blunt to soft

Level	Example	When
Blunt / dry	shev! שב	"sit!" — command
Neutral	teshev תשב	future-as-imperative
Polite	teshev bevakasha תשב בבקשה	"please sit"
Very polite	ulai teshev? אולי תשב?	"maybe you'd sit down?"
Literary/official	na lashevet נא לשבת	"please be seated" (via infinitive)

A note on the last level: in official signage ("please don't smoke," "please close the door") instead of the imperative there's often נא + infinitive: na lo le'ashen — "please don't smoke." This is the formal register.

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